MovieChat Forums > In the Bleak Midwinter (1996) Discussion > Directors Cameo?

Directors Cameo?

posted 17 years ago by scary-man
9 replies | jump to latest

I watched this film just yesterday (Sunday September 23, 2007) and observed the following.

In the beginning of the film (second or third scene I think), when Joe Harper walks out of a store he passes a man standing and reading a newspaper just outside. The figure very much looks like Kenneth Branagh (imitating Alfred Hitchcock doing a cameo in one of his films), the director.

Anyway since there is no DVD of this film can anyone confirm that it is Branagh and what Hitchcock film did he do the newspaper reading cameo?

Thanks.

[–] smeth 17 years ago

I glanced at my vhs. It resembles him, but my vhs is too blurry to tell. I will say this, Branagh has a round, flat, slightly chubby face. The guy in the background has fairly prominent cheekbones. I'd guess it's not Branagh. On the other hand, with a big digital screen (or better, cinema screen), I might change my mind.

[–] scary-man 17 years ago

Thanks for the info smeth on your VHS copy. Sure makes me wish this was on DVD as we could freeze the frame and get a clear close up look.

As for my question on Hitchcock's cameo where he is reading a newspaper I think it was "Foreign Correspondent" although I can't confirm this as I do not have that film on VHS or DVD.

[–] smeth 17 years ago

Wikipedia, the source of all knowledge in the universe, has a list of Hitchcock's cameos. You were right about "Foreign Correspondent", and he also holds a newspaper in "Rope". Um, I've discovered a p2p file of Bleak Midwinter under it's french title "Au Milieu de L'hiver". I don't know it's quality or origin (french tv?). If I get it, I'll see if the image is any clearer.

[–] smeth 17 years ago

I am now the proud owner of the file of "Au Milieu de L'hiver", the french dubbed version of "In The Bleak Midwinter". It doesn't have great resolution, but it's more clear than the vhs. I've look all over the internet , it was never on dvd. This must be recorded from tv.

Here's the man with the newspaper, his face is enlarged in the center of the photo. When I tried to enlarge it more, the image got very blurry. I still can't tell.

http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s143/corkyspetals/Midwinter.jpg

[–] scary-man 17 years ago

Looking at the picture now, I am not sure it's Branagh. The nose in the enlargement looks too big and the chin juts out like Kirk Douglas. But with a little makeup he could be disguising his appearance. I guess we won't know for sure until someone who worked on the film confirms or denies it is him.

[–] ChoirBoyOC 17 years ago

And of course in Lifeboat, his image appears in a newspaper...

[–] megArnold 13 years ago

I always thought it was the guy he passes immediately afterwards (bleached hair, back to audience). Branagh had bleached hair in "Hamlet"...

--
Hmmm?

[–] smeth 13 years ago

You mean this guy?

http://s151.photobucket.com/albums/s143/corkyspetals/?action=view&; current=PDVD_005.jpg

[–] Arcipreste 8 years ago

The man in the grey coat, with the back towards the camera. That's totally him.